MANILA, Philippines?Exactly one week after the Maguindanao massacre, various groups are scheduled to march on Monday to the Don Chino Roces Monument, a symbol of press freedom, to call for an end to impunity and demand justice for the victims.

Called the March Against Impunity! March for Justice!, the November 30 march will be participated in by the National Union of Peoples Lawyers (NUPL), the National Press Club (NPC), the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines (NUJP), Karapatan, Gabriela, Solidarity Philippines, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (Bayan), Gabriela, Pagbabago, and the College Editors Guild of the Philippines.

A statement from Bayan said this is the first multi-sectoral march to Mendiola Bridge since the aftermath of the gruesome killings that have shocked the world. The groups will assemble at the University of Sto. Tomas at 9 a.m. and will march at around 10 a.m. The protest will include journalists, lawyers, women?s groups, church groups, students and teachers, women?s rights advocates, and other concerned citizens outraged over the killings in Maguindanao.

A tableau of the 57 murdered women, journalists, and lawyers will be staged when the protesters reach Mendiola Bridge.

?This is just the start of many multi-sectoral protests until the killings stop and justice for the victims is achieved. This is not only an issue of journalists, or an issue of election violence. This is a people?s issue, a human rights issue that everyone should feel strongly about,? said Bayan secretary general Renato Reyes Jr.

?We have to hold this government accountable for the climate of impunity and the systemic denial of justice for hundreds of victims of extrajudicial killings since 2001. No doubt, the failure of government to curb these abuses and bring the perpetrators to justice has emboldened killers all over the country. Instead of running for Congress, Arroyo should step down over the killings,? Reyes said.

Many of the groups support the call for an impartial investigation and the creation of a special court to try the suspects, which include Mayor Andal Ampatuan, Jr., local police, and paramilitary troops.

Bayan has called on its chapters nationwide and abroad to launch protest actions to press government to deliver swift justice.